Apparatus for realizing eyelets at the ends of helical draw springs



Sept. 14, 1965 A. E. F. VANHULEN APPARATUS FOR REALIZING EYELETS AT THE ENDS OF HELICAL DRAW SPRINGS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 31, 1962 I FlgZ F'.5

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APPARATUS FOR REALIZING EYELETS AT THE ENDS OF HELICAL DRAW SPRINGS Filed July 31, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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APPARATUS FOR REALIZING EYELETS AT THE ENDS 0F HELICAL DRAW SPRINGS Filed July 31, 1962 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR. A.E.F. VANHULEN ATTORNEY5 United States Patent 3,205,917 APPARATUS FOR REALIZING EYELETS AT THE ENDS 0F HELICAL DRAW SPRINGS Antoine Emile Florent Vanhulen, 87 Rue du Crucifix, Herstal, Belgium Filed July 31, 1962, tier. No. 213,783 Claims priority, application Belgium, Aug. 11, 1961, 40,891, Patent 607,130 7 Claims. (CL 140-403) Almost generally, the helical draw springs are ended by a hooking loop.

This loop is generally obtained by straightening out a turn or a portion of a turn to bring it in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the helical spring.

In numerous cases, it is essential that these loops are realized quite correctly and symmetrically.

In very numerous cases too, very close tolerances are imposed with respect to the free space between the terminating end of a loop and the nearest portion of the adjoining turn.

ltresults that the formation of such terminal loops of the helical draw spring in appropriate conditions sets technical and industrial problems, mainly when taking into consideration the substantial amount of such draw springs used in the industry.

Heretofore, there has been mainly used manually actuated apparatus or, in some cases, semi-automatic apparatus.

The conventional process comprises keeping the spring horizontally or obliquely in the presence of a tool for straightening out the last turn and then actuating said tool, this operation being repeated successively for both ends of the spring.

It has already been suggested completely automatic apparatus, but more particularly intended for carrying out bindings or loops formed by bending the free ends of the springs, namely, otherwise than by straightening out the last turn or a portion of a turn of the helical Spring under very accurate conditions.

It is a first object of the invention to provide a process for realizing completely automatically and within very close precision limits such loops at both ends of the draw springs, said loops being formed by straightening out a turn or a turn portion to bring it in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the spring and according to working tolerances which may be very close.

It is another object of the invention to provide special means through which the said process may be carried out completely automatically, excluding any defect.

It is a third object of the invention to provide apparatus using means for carrying out systematically and very efiiciently the said process.

This process comprises substantially bringing the helical spring in a vertical or nearly vertical position, acting upon it to bring it in a correct position, securing it in this position so that at least the lower turn be kept completely free, bringing a stop in the presence of the turn portion being straightened out and acting against the said stop the said turn portion being straightened out to bring it in such a position that, when freed from this action, it takes up its correct definitive position.

This general process is preferably completed by additional steps to allow the automatic, rapid and very precise realization of each of the said essential steps. All these steps will be more fully described hereafter.

The characteristical forming means according to the invention for carrying the said process comprise substantial means for feeding and keeping one by one the helical springs with their longitudinal axis in a vertical or nearly vertical position, means for supporting temporarily the said springs and determining the correct posi- Ice tion thereof, means for acting upon the said springs to bring them in a correct position by an eventual rotation and/or translation movement, means for securing the said springs in the said correct position, while the said underlying support stands sideways, means for forming the side stop to the portion of the lower turn being distorted and for forming a temporary separation between the said turn portion and the underlying turn, means for acting upon and bending the portion of the terminal turn of the spring against the said stop to form automatically and successively such a loop at both ends of the helical springs, and, between two groups of such means, the interposition of a receiving-reversing means.

The essential features of these different means will be also more fully described hereafter.

Finally, the apparatus according to the invention for realizing loops at both ends of the draw spring will generally comprise two groups of the said means disposed under each other and separated by the said receivingreversing means, the apparatus including of course all the equipment necessary for starting or stopping opportunely the said means and devices as well as any controlling, safety and correcting means allowing an automatic and regular operation of all the said means and devices in view of a completely automatic production.

It is apparent that the invention relates also to apparatus including only some of the said means and devices, namely for particular realizations.

It is also apparent that the process such as described herein may be carried out under very variable embodiments according to the nature and the relative position of the members and mechanisms used for carrying out the said means.

Thus, it is only by way of example and without any limitation that a preferred embodiment will be described hereafter with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a spring, the loop shaped ends of which are realized according to the process and by the apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 2 shows by way of example and for the sake of the cause a helical spring, the turns of which are previously spaced from each other, namely with the view of giving more clearness to the description and the other figures;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are respectively side and front views of the spring of FIGURE 2, after having realized the end eyelets;

FIGURES 5 to 12 show as summarily as possible the successive steps of an operational cycle according to the invention;

FIGURE 13 is a presepctive view of the head of the apparatus according to the invention, some elements being taken away for more clearness;

FIGURE 14 is a persepctive view, on a larger scale, of a portion of the head represented in FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a cross sectional view of the elements of the said apparatus in the step of the process corresponding to FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 16 is a section on the line XVI-XVI of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a view according to the arrow F17 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURES 18, 19 and 20 are respectively sectional views according to the lines XVIII-XVIII, XIXXIX and XX-XX of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 21 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 15, but corresponding to the step ,of the process represented in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 22 is a sectional view according to the line XXIIXXII of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 23 is a sectional view according to the line XXIII-XXIII of FIGURE 21;

FIGURE 24 represents diagrammatically the combination of a forming mechanism of the receiving-inverting device and the upper portion-of a second forming mech-' anism;

FIGURE 25 is a vertical section of the sleeve of the forming mechanism;

FIGURE 26 is a plan view of the sleeve of FIGURE 25 FIGURES 27 and 28 are respectively sectional Views according to the lines XXVIIXXVII and XXVIII- XXVIII of FIGURE 25;

FIGURES 29 and 30 show as summarily as possible in two characteristical positions another embodiment of a forming mechanism according to the invention;

FIGURE 31 is a front view of the tasting elements of the control device for the conduits feeding the springs to The first step of the process comprises bringing the 7 spring 1 at the end of a conduit 4, the internal diameter of which is such that it allows the guiding and the sliding of the said spring 1, the latter abutting against an adjustable and displaceable support, the upper face of which 6 has a helically shaped track. In the embodiment represented diagrammaticaly in FIGURE 15, which shows also the first step of the process diagrammatically represented as summarily as possible in the said FIGURE 5, the said conduit 4 is extended by a sleeve 7, the internal diameter of which is the same as the internal diameter of the said conduit 4. This sleeve has inclined external grooves 8-9-10, in which are housed rods 11-12-13 respectively. The lower portion of the said sleeve 7 has side ports 14-15-16 and, on the corresponding portion of the said rods 11-12-13, there are mounted cylindro-conical rollers 17-18-19 respectively. The said inclined grooves 8-9-10 have a depth substantially higher than the diameter of the said rods 11-12-13 respectively to allow to the latter and, consequently, to the said cylindro-conical rollers 17-18-19 to shift radially. A rotating runner 20 is mounted loosely and with an easy fit on the said sleeve 7 above the said rollers 17-18-19, the upper portion of the said runner being externally toothed up to a certain level while meshing permanently with a pinion 22 keyed on an axle 23, which may be driven by an appropriate mechanism (not represented). A fork 24 is engaged with the peripheral groove 25 of the said runner 20 and this fork may be conveniently shifted with an alternating movement by an appropriate mechanism (known per se) not represented, but such that the said runner 20 may be shifted along the sleeve 7, while being kept engaged with the said pinion 22.

Finally, the lower portion of the runner 20 has a recess 26, the conical wall 27 of which may act upon the conical portion of the said rollers 17-18-19. In view of increasing the adherence ratio between the runner 20 and the said rollers 17-18-19, the latter are preferably made of an appropriate material, e.g. a synetheticresin, i.e. an amine resin. To be adjustable as Well on the height as angularly, the said support 5 is extended at its lower portion by a tail 2% diametrally engaged with the end of a rod 29, on which it may be firmly tightened, e.g. through the intermediary of a bolt 30 and nuts 31-32.

The said support 5 is made displaceable owing to the fact that rod 29 may be shifted lengthwise at the appropriate time by a suitable mechanism also known per so (not represented).

At a very accurate distance with respect to the correct upper level of the said support 5, there is fastened a sort of horizontal vice havinga stationary jaw 33 firmly secured to the adjoining portion of they frame and a laterally moving jaw 34. The latter is connected with the former by a resilient arm 35 and both these jaws 33-34 are such that the width L of the space they normally outline, is larger than the diameter of the spring 1, while the cylindrical face 36 of the recess'of the station ary jaw 33 is firmly secured in the extension of the corresponding portion of the internal cylindrical face of the sleeve 7.

Opposite to the resilient jaw 34 and at a distance therefrom, there is disposed a complex moving set guided posilively in the slideway represented in 37. This complex set comprises at different and duly predetermined levels a proper push 38 disposed at the level of the resilient moving jaw 34, an intermediate lamination 39 and the stop element 40.

This moving set is such that the push 38, on one hand, and the intermediate lamination 39 and the stop 40, on the other hand, may be shifted by individual translation movements, but preferably through the intermediary of the same mechanism provided according to the operating cycle of the process of the invention.

In the same moving set, the intermediate lamination 33 has such a position or a level that it may come between the last and the last turn but one of the spring, while being still adjoining to the said moving jaw 34. As regards the stop 40, it has, at its free end, a particular shape, the details of which are represented in FIGURES 17 to 20. It will be observed that this free end has two oppositely inclined planes 41-42 separated by a median longitudinal recess 43. The distance between the lower face of the intermediate lamination 39 and the upper face of the stop is substantially equal to the thickness of the wire forming the spring. On theother side of the vice 33-36, there is disposed the loop forming tool 44.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 15, 21 and 23, the forming tool 44 is adjoining to a buffer 45 which may cooperate with the tool 44 at the end of the forming run.

The forming tool 44 and its adjoining buflFer 45 are guided in the slideway 46 and in relationship with a driving mechanism known per se (not represented), which may shift them according to an alternating translation movement, this guiding being such'that the said tools are shifted in a direction inclined with respect to the shifting direction of the moving set 37-40 at the other side of the spring 1.

This forming mechanism embodying one of the characteristics of the invention operates substantially as follows: the different constituting elements of the mechanism are in the position represented in FIGURE 15, in which the rotating runner 26 is in its high position, thereby releasing the rollers 1'718-19,which are thus in their maximurnniutual spacing. Howeven'the said runner 20 is permanently rotating, while being driven by the toothed pinion 22. The vice 33-36is opened; the moving set 37-40, on the one hand, and the forming tool 44-45, on the other hand, are in waiting position and the'support 5 has been dully adjusted on the height and angularly to be at a suitable level under the said vice 33-36.

The springs 1 are fed one by one in free fall through the conduit 4 and they come to rest on the lower support 5. At that time, the rotating runner 20 is lowered by means of the fork24 in such manner that its conical face 27 exerts a radial pressure on the cylindro-conical rollers 17-18-19, which are brought nearerto eachother While clasping peripherically the corresponding portion of the spring 1, since the rods and the axis of the said rollers 17-18-19 are inclined and owing to the conjugated rotation and axial pressure effects, the said rollers are driving the spring 1 in a helical downwards movement. It results that the lower free end of the said spring is positively guided by the helical track 6 of the support 5 and that the said free end abuts against the bottom of the recess presented by the said helical track, thereby securing the spring in a correct position before forming the loop (FIGURE 21). At that time, the push 38 moves forward while pushing back the resilient jaw 34, which applies against the corresponding portion of the spring 1 immediately above the last lower turn, thereby securing the said spring in the said correct position. Simultaneously, the rotating runner 20 is brought back to its high position by the movement of its driving fork 24 in the appropriate direction, thereby releasing the action of the rollers 17-18-19 upon the spring. When the spring is secured in its position by the said vice 33-36, the support 5 moves aside, namely by a transverse withdrawal movement of the rod 29 conveniently driven by a known mechanism (not represented). Then, the second portion of the moving set, i.e. the intermediate lamination 39 and the profiled stop 40 is shifted to the spring 1 in such manner that the said lamination 39 comes between the last and the last lower turn but one of the spring, whereas the profiled stop 40' comes to rest in front of the turn portion intended to form the loop (FIG- URE 9).

Finally, the forming tool 44-45 moves forward, the said tool acting upon and pushing back the turn portion intended to form the loop, to apply the same against the profiled stop 40 as represented in FIGURES and 24. With the loop being so formed, the moving set 37-49 and the forming tool 44-45 withdraw, thereby releasing the spring 1. According to another characteristic of the invention and with the view of forming the second loop, the said spring 1 falls in the said tubular element 47 included in the receiving-reversing device. This device is substantially formed by the said tubular element 47 integral with a hub 48 it traverses diametrally and to which it is fastened, eg through a screw 4? in such a manner that the said tubular element may be shifted and adjusted. A toothed crown 50 meshing with a rack 51 is integral with the said hub 48. The said toothed crown 50 may be rotated by a known means (not represented) so as to run' on the rack 51, thereby inducing the rotation of the said tubular element 47 in one direction or the other according to the direction of the said running. The tubular element 47 may be thereby brought from the high position represented in 52 to the low position represented in 53.

The assembly 47-51 may be also preferably mounted on a carriage or runner such that, when the tubular element is in the high position represented in 52, this assembly rises somewhat in such manner that the mouthpiece of the tubular element 47 comes very near the lower end of the spring 1, thereby providing a correct fall of the latter in the said tubular element. Then, a rotation move ment of 180 is imparted to the latter about the axis of the hub 48 to come co-axially with respect to a tubular inlet 54 for the second forming mechanism, this tubular inlet 54 being equivalent to the said tubular inlet 4 of the first described forming apparatus. This second forming apparatus operates exactly as the first apparatus, the springs 1 with their two loops 2-3- being then removed.

As represented in FIGURE 24, a screen 55 is disposed in a paralleldirection at a slight distance from the path of the mouthpiece of the tubular element 47 from its horizontal position down to its lower position. This screen has two purposes: on one hand, preventing the accidental ejection of the spring temporarily housed in the tubular element 47 before the latter has reached its lower vertical position and, on the other hand, serving as a safe ty device in case two springs should be accidentally carried through the said tubular element 47. In that case, one of these two springs would project beyond the mouthpiece of the said tubular element 47 and would abut against the upper edge of the said screen 55. Since the latter and the said tubular element 47 are included in the feeding circuit of a known device controlling the feeding circuit of the general driving motor and the feeding to the apparatus, the latter comes instantaneously to rest and the said feeding is interrupted in case two springs should be simultaneously engaged accidentally in the said tubular element 47.

Owing to the fully automatical character of the apparatus, the correct feeding thereof with springs is importantand it is essential to secure as well the different mechanisms as the whole apparatus against the failures or the irregularities in the said feeding. This is as more important as the working rhythm is relatively rapid and the production per hour of the apparatus is high. For this purpose, in addition of the safety device provided by the said screen 55, the feeding means of the apparatus are still controlled by a plurality of safety devices. The ones are controlling quantitatively the feeding, whereas the others are controlling it qualitatively.

As represented in FIGURES 13, 31, 32, 33 and 34, the quantitative controlling elements consist of elements forming both jigging elements and tasting elements, the position of which controls the feeding mechanism and eventually the whole apparatus.

These tasting elements are engaged in the said tubular conduit 4. For this purpose, the said tubular element 4 has a longitudinal port 56, through which the tasting elements may enter the said tubular conduit 4. A first upper tasting element is provided by a resilient metallic rod 57 integral with the basis 58 of a microswitch 59 (controlling the feeding device of the apparatus), the pushknob 60 of Which is normally kept at a slight distance from the said taster 57, the said basis 58 being itself made integral with the axis 61 of the driving means of the said taster 57. The free end 62 of the said taster 57 is bent downwards under to be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tubular element 4.

Under this first control and safety device, there are provided two tasters 63-64 formed by a single metallic rod, the free ends 65-66 respectively of which are bent perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element 4. Both these tasters 63-64 are secured on an axis 67 through the intermediary of an element 68 of an electrical insulating material. The lower taster 64 is included in the electrical circuit, in which the tubular element 4, the circuit controlling the driving motor of the apparatus as well as the feeding device thereof are also included. An alternating rotation movement is also periodically imparted to the axis 67 common to both tasters 63-64 to alternatively engage and disengage their free ends 65-66 respectively with and from the said tubular element through the longitudinal port 56.

This manifold safety means operates substantially as follows: the feeding device of a known type is represented in FIGURE 13 by the drum 69 supplying the springs one by one in the upper portion of the tubular element 4. This spring is collected by the first taster 57 which retains it, then the said taster 57 moving sideways, it releases the spring which is collected by the free end 65 of the taster 63. Then, the two tasters 63-64 moving aside, the spring falls in free fall, traverses the sleeve 7 of the forming mechanism and comes to rest on the support 5, as previously described.

Should more than one spring be systematically received by the taster 57 due to a defect in the operation of the feeding device, when the said taster will move aside, it will allow the fall of this plurality of springs on the following taster 63. Since the distance D between the nearest portions of the tasters 57-63 is lower than twice the length of a spring 1, but higher than once the said length, one will obtain that in its next meshing movement with the tubular element 4, the taster 57 will abut with its free end 62 against the corresponding portion of the spring lying in its path. The driving mechanism of the said taster 57 and the microswitch 59 respectively going on with moving, it results that by the distortion of the saidtaster 57,

the push-knob 60 'is actuated. The feeding mechanism of the apparatus is thereby automatically stopped as long as the said taster 57-62 is contacting this overfeeding. In addition, the said microswitch will be repeatedly actuated as long as the said feeding will be defective.

Both tasters 63-64 being simultaneously shifted, they will allow each time a spring to pass, the accidental overfeeding being retained by the upper taster 57-62 as just described above.

In case a number of springs should he accidentally stacked on the lower support up to the level of the taster 64, the latter would cause through the said spring or one of them the feeding opening of the starting mechanism and the feeding mechanism of the apparatus. This would allow to reset the apparatus in its normal state by spacing the adjoined springs.

It is seen that through said relatively very simple means, there is provided the quantitative control of the automatic feeding of the springs and the apparatus is actually secured against the trouble effects in the said feeding.

Finally, also due to the fully automatic character of the apparatus, it is essential to provide a qualitative control of the springs introduced in the apparatus and more particularly in the forming mechanism. In fact, means are to be provided to prevent any clogging of some passages, e.g. by a spring, which may have some distortions modifying the maximum transverse space occupied by the springs. For this purpose, it is suggested to provide at the head of the feeding tube 4 a very simple gauging device, as represented in FIGURES 35 and 36. This gauging device consists, e.g. of two jaws 7ti-71 hingedly mounted about an axis 72, one of these jaws 70 being for instance integral with a bent lever 73, which may rotate about an axis 74 under the action of a cam 75. A release spring 76 keeps a permanent contact between the said cam and the corresponding portion of the said bent lever. Each of the jaws 70-71 has a semi-cylindrical recess and their mally secured co-axially and above the said tubular feed? ing conduit 4 of the upper forming mechanism, and also under the delivering element 81 of the feeding mechanism 69. The alternative movement of the device 70-78 is such that the jaws 70-71 are periodically brought in opened position above the mouth piece of the discharge tube 79 owing to the contact between the free end 78 of the jaw 71 and the stationary stop 80. Consequently, every qualitatively correct fall of a spring through the cylindrical opening 77 does not result in any intervening of the said qualitative control device. However, if any defect of a spring provides the latter with a projecting portion, a permanent deformation increasing locally the transverse dimensions or still any distortion, the spring being not able to pass through the said cylindrical opening 77 is kept secured in the latter or on the jaws 70-71. In the next shifting of'this control device, both jaws 70-71 are spaced under the action of the stop 80 and they defective spring will fall in the mouthpiece of the discharge conduit 79 and it will be thereby automatically discarded. The ganging device returns then automatically to its initial position, namely ready to control the next spring supplied to the first eyelet forming apparatus.

It is apparent that the dilferent mechanisms and mainly the different members described by way of example only may be replaced by any other mechanism or any other similar members or having a similar function. Some mechanism apparently different from those described by Way of example, but having the same function,.might be introduced in the apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the correct positioning of the spring in each forming mechanism might be simplified, e.g. as represented in FIGURES 29 and 30 in two characteristieal positions. In this embodiment, the adjustable stop as well as the driving means for rotating the spring about its longitudinal axis inthe forming mechanism are replaced by a rotating stop consisting substantially of an axis co-axial with the sleeve 7 and disposed thereunder at an appropriate level. This axis 82 is surmounted by a cutting 33, which is itself extended by a thread-like length bent to present a leg 84 aslant with respect to the longitudinal axis of the said elements 82-83.. The said leg 84 has such a length and a disposition that it may provide a temporary support for the springs 1 which are reaching it by falling through the said sleeve 7. The step-by-step rotation movements of thisvspecial support 82-83-84 are provided in such manner that each spring l is brought into the correct position before forming the loop. The driving, stopping and controlling mechanisms of the said special support may use known means (not represented).

By this way, it will be possible to provide a plurality of embodiments without modifying the process or the apparatus as described in the foregoing and defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for forming eyelets upon apposite ends of helical draw springs, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertical conduit for a spring, means feeding the springs, means for controlling the quality of springs, the second-mentioned means being connected with thefirst-mentioned meansand the top of said vertical conduit, a discharge conduit connected with the second mentioned means, a positioning sleeve enclosing the lower portion of said vertical conduit and .having inclined grooves uponits outer surface and a plurality of side ports upon its lower end, rods in said grooves, rollers carried by the lower ends of said rods and located opposite said side ports, a runner mounted upon said sleeve and movable vertically upon saidsleeve, means rotating said runner, said runner when lowered engaging and moving said rollers toward each other to cause them to impart a downward helical motion to the spring being treated, a device located below said vertical conduit for forming an eyelet upon one end of a spring, a spring-receiving and reversing device located below the first-mentioned device, a vertically displaceable axle supporting the second-mentioned device for rotary movement, means constituting a tubular inlet receiving the spring from the second-mentioned device, and a device cooperaing with the last-mentioned means for forming an eyelet upon the other end of the last-mentioned spring.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,'wherein the means controlling the quality of springs constitute a gauging device comprising two jaws adapted to embrace a spring, means hingedly supporting said jaws, a rotatable lever connected with one of said jaws, a release spring connected with said lever, and a stop adapted to be engaged by the other one of said jaws.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rollers have conical portions and wherein said runner has conicalsurfaces adapted to engage the conical portions of said rollers.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, comprising a vice located between said vertical conduit and the first-mentioned device, said vice comprising a stationery jaw and a laterally movable jaw connected with the firstmentioned jaw; and a pushing member adapted to engage the second-mentioned jaw and push'it against a spring.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first-mentioned device comprises a lamination integral with said pushing member and adapted to engage between the turns of a spring, a stop integral with said. lamination, and a loop forming toolcooperating with said stop.

6. An apparatus for forming eyelets upon opposite ends of helical draw springs, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertical conduit for a spring, means feeding the springs, means for controlling the quality of springs, the second-mentioned means being connected with the first-mentioned means and the top of said vertical conduit, a discharge conduit connected with the secod-mentioned means, a positioning sleeve enclosing the lower portion of said vertical conduit and having inclined grooves upon its outer surface and a plurality of side ports upon its lower end, rods in said grooves, rollers carried by the lower ends of said rods and located opposite said side ports, a runner mounted upon said sleeve and movable vertically upon said sleeve, means rotating said runner, said runner when lowered engaging and moving said rollers toward each other to cause them to impart a downward helical motion to the spring being treated, a device located below said vertical conduit for forming an eyelet upon one end of a spring, a spring-receiving and reversing device comprising a tubular member located below the first-mentioned device for receiving the spring, a hub, means adjustably connecting said tubular member l with said hub, a toothed crown integral with said hub, and a rack meshing with said toothed crown; and means vertically moving the second-mentioned device, whereby said tubular member may be simultaneously rotated to the extent of 180 and moved vertically, means constituting a tubular inlet receiving the spring from the secondmentioned device, and a device cooperating with the lastmentioned means for forming an eyelet upon the other end of the last-mentioned spring.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, comprising a curved screen uniformly spaced from said tubular member during a part of its rotary movement, and electrical signalling means for stopping the apparatus when said screen is engaged by a spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,497 1/13 Harter 140l03 2,078,828 4/37 Baer et al. 14Ol03 3,069,024 12/62 Penny 140103 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR FORMING EYELETS UPON APPOSITE ENDS OF HELICAL DRAW SPRINGS, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A VERTICAL CONDUIT FOR A SPRING, MEANS FEEDING THE SPRINGS, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE QUALITY OF SPRINGS, THE SECOND-MENTIONMED MEANS BEING CONNECTED WITH THE FIRST-MENTIONED MEANS AND THE TOP OF SAID VERTICAL CONDUIT, A DISCHARGE CONDUIT CONNECTED WITH THE SECONDMENTIONED MEANS, A POSITIONING SLEEVE ENCLOSING THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID VERTICAL CONDUIT AND HAVING INCLINED GROOVES UPON ITS OUTER SURFACE AND A PLURALITY OF SIDE PORTS UPON ITS LOWER END, RODS IN SAID GROOVES, ROLLERS CARRIED BY THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID RODS AND LOCATED OPPOSITE SAID SIDE PORTS, A RUNNER MOUNTED UPON SAID SLEEVE AND MOVABLE VERTICALLY UPON SAID SLEEVE, MEANS ROTATING SAID RUNNER, SAID RUNNER WHEN LOWERED ENGAGING AND MOVING SAID ROLLERS TOWARD EACH OTHER TO CAUSE THEM TO IMPART A DOWNWARD HELICAL MOTION TO THE SPRING BEING TREATED, A DEVICE LOCATED BELOW SAID VERTICAL CONDUIT FOR FORMING AN EYELET UPON ONE END OF A SPRING, A SPRING-RECEIVING AND REVERSING DEVICE LOCATED BELOW THE FIRST-MENTIONED DEVICE, A VERTICALLY DISPLACEABLE AXLE SUPPORTING THE SECOND-MENTIONED DEVICE FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT, MEANS CONTITUTING A TUBULAR INLET RECEIVING THE SPRING FROM THE SECOND-MENTIONED DEVICE, AND A DEVICE COOPERAING WITH THE LAST-MENTIONED MEANS FOR FORMING AN EYELET UPON THE OTHER END OF THE LAST-MENTIONED SPRING. 